Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been defined by two questions: how to replace Mohamed Salah’s impact, and whether Cody Gakpo’s future lies at Anfield or elsewhere. The answers may be intertwined, and Florian Wirtz’s performance for Germany in their World Cup opener—where he carved out chances against a side ranked 82nd in the world—has suddenly injected urgency into the debate. The 23-year-old’s ability to operate as a left-winger, a false nine, or even a deeper-lying forward mirrors the fluidity Andoni Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 system demands. Yet for a player who arrived at Liverpool with the weight of a £116 million price tag, the challenge of translating that creativity into consistent Premier League results remains the defining test of his Anfield tenure.
Iraola’s tactical blueprint is built on aggression and forward momentum, a philosophy that aligns with Wirtz’s strengths but also exposes his vulnerabilities. The Spaniard’s struggles last season—particularly in midfield and as a lone striker—highlighted the difficulty of integrating a player of his technical prowess into a system that demands adaptability. His World Cup display, however, suggested a return to the form that made him Bayer Leverkusen’s standout talent: sharp movement, precise delivery, and an instinct for goal-scoring positions. Liverpool fans who watched him in Germany’s opening game would have recognised flashes of the player who dazzled in the Bundesliga, though the context—an opponent nearly 60 places below them in world rankings—reminds us that consistency in the Premier League is another matter entirely.
The Wirtz conundrum is inextricable from Gakpo’s. Both players arrived at Anfield with high expectations, only to face the harsh reality of adapting to a new league, a new manager, and a squad in transition. Iraola’s preference for a 4-2-3-1 formation could see Wirtz operate as a false winger, a role that would allow him to exploit space between the lines—a position that suits his dribbling and vision. But if Gakpo’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain, Wirtz’s ability to step into a more central role could become pivotal. The Spaniard’s versatility is his greatest asset, but his past struggles in defensive midfield roles suggest Liverpool must be cautious about overloading him with responsibilities beyond his comfort zone.
For Iraola, the stakes are clear: he must either unlock Wirtz’s potential or risk another summer of underperformance from his most expensive signing. The World Cup has provided a rare glimpse of what he could be, but the real test will come in the Premier League, where the margin between brilliance and irrelevance is razor-thin. With Salah’s departure creating a void in the attack, Wirtz’s ability to thrive in Iraola’s system could determine whether Liverpool’s rebuild gains momentum—or stumbles under the weight of unfulfilled potential. The next few months will reveal whether the Spaniard’s World Cup form was a one-off, or the beginning of a resurgence that could finally justify his transfer fee.
